Coming and Going

Max Silverman, protagonist in Vintage Theatres production of The Goodbye People, knows hes going to die. Soon. But before he does, hes going to resurrect his Coney Island hot dog stand, closed for twenty years. At least thats his plan. His daughter, Shirley, a fledging television-commercial actress with a new nose who now goes by Nancy, will play a role (no pun intended). So will Arthur Korman, an employee of the Jingle Bell Display Company for eighteen years  the kind of guy who worries about gaps in conversation and carries a banjo even though he cant play it.

Its a very strange piece, says Roger Simon, who plays Max Silverman. The title is very apropos. Each one of these characters is, in a way, kind of a loser or a goodbye person, in that theyre saying goodbye to something that was part of their life or goodbye to their life itself. Interestingly enough, says Simon, the set is maybe more important than the actors. Thats because director Jesse Larner brought in installation artist Gillian Waggoner to re-create Coney Island on her terms, using only found objects and recycled materials. Not to mention nearly ten tons of sand.

The Goodbye People opens today at7:30 p.m. and plays weekends through April 3 at Vintage Theatre, 2119 East 17th Avenue. Tickets are $18 in advance, $23 at the door. Get more at 303-839-1361 or www.vintagetheatre.com.
Fridays, Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, 2:30 p.m. Starts: March 5. Continues through April 3, 2010